Photographers · Virginia

Photographers Salary in Virginia

Photographers in Virginia earn a median annual wage of $46,550 —4.2% above the national median of $44,660. That ranks VA #14 of 49 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$46,550
Median hourly
$22.38
Entry level (P10)
$31,200
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$91,060
90th percentile
Employment
1,580
0.4 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+4.2%
U.S. $44,660

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$31,200
$35,640
$46,550
$55,800
$31,200$46,550$91,060
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $46,550.

Employment is 1.15× as concentrated as the national average, making Virginia a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for photographers

All 49 states ranked by median annual wage. Virginia is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$110,970$53.352601.13
2New York$60,050$28.873,6501.13
3Massachusetts$57,990$27.888300.69
4Oregon$53,630$25.785100.78
5Utah$52,140$25.076601.14
6Delaware$50,100$24.091801.11
7Connecticut$49,790$23.946301.12
8New Mexico$48,090$23.122300.79
9Washington$48,050$23.109600.81
10California$47,840$23.007,9801.32

Related occupations in Virginia

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Virginia.

OccupationVirginia medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$80,380$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$46,290$47,320
Graphic Designers$72,310$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$37,750$39,390
Producers and Directors$65,900$90,360
Editors$80,590$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do photographers make in Virginia?

The median annual wage for photographers in Virginia is $46,550, or $22.38 per hour. That is 4.2% above the national median of $44,660.

What is the entry-level photographers salary in Virginia?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $31,200 per year ($15.00/hour). The 25th percentile is $35,640.

How many people work as photographers in Virginia?

About 1,580 people work in this occupation in Virginia, or 0.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Virginia a good state for photographers?

Virginia ranks #14 of 49 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.15x as concentrated as the national average, making Virginia a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays photographers the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $110,970 per year, followed by New York ($60,050) and Massachusetts ($57,990).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes